Popeye's Athlete of the Month:
July 2008

MATT SCHAMEHORN

Hi my name is Matt. I was Born and raised in St. Albert, Alberta Canada. I am 25 years old and have been involved in sports my whole life.

Growing up I played hockey lacrosse and golf. At the age of ten I started to play around with weights as I have an older brother who was into lifting weights. I have to be honest growing up I was never the fittest kid around I used to live at McDonalds and have always loved ice cream. I would never have considered myself at fat kid but kind of husky I would say.

My father made me a deal when I was twelve years old he said if I do 100 push ups and 100 sit ups every night for one month he would get me the membership for me so I did. So at the age of twelve I got my first gym membership as I wanted to have killer abs and big arms.

The gym quickly became my new home as I would have my mother drive me there every day after school if I did not have hockey.

At the age of sixteen I came to realize that if I wanted to compete in bodybuilding I could not play hockey anymore as my schedule was just too busy. So I gave up hockey as the gym was my number one priority in my life at that time.

At the age of seventeen I competed in my first bodybuilding show I was ten years younger than the closest aged competitor in my weight class. Two weeks after I competed in the show I was scouted by a fitness modeling agency in New York City. I travelled down to New York at seventeen to see if I would be interested in trying out the modeling life style.

I have to say the life style you live in New York is very different then growing up in St. Albert. To this day I still go down to New York to do photo shoots for fitness magazine it's a great part time job. I no longer compete in bodybuilding as I am now a father and don't have the time to commit to such long hours in the gym as my son is my first priority in my life now. However I still workout 4 -5 times a week with weights and do 45 plus minutes five days a week for cardio.

Exercise and healthy living has made me the person I am today. I was a personal trainer for many years and feel that people are generally happier and have a better quality of life if they live a healthy life style. If you can combine constant exercise with healthy eating and proper supplementation you will improve your quality of the life and live much longer then if you're a lazy couch potato. I know that for the rest of my life I will always be living a healthy life style and exercising. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something if you believe you will achieve fallow through on all of your goals and live everyday to the fullest.

Matt's Workout:  Click for larger image   Monday Chest, Abs, Calfs Wednesday Biceps, Shoulders Incline Bench   - 5 sets 12-15 reps Flat bench Flys   - 4 sets 12 -15 reps Hammer Strength Press   - 4 sets 12 -15 reps Cable Cross over   - 3 sets 15-20 reps Dips   - 3 sets to failure   Super set calf raises and weighted sit ups Lateral raises   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Military dumbbell presses   - 4 sets 12 - 15 reps Upright rows   - 4 sets 12 - 15 reps Standing alternate dumbbell curls   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Preacher curls   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Concentration curls   - 4 sets 12 - 15 reps Barbell curls   - 4 sets 12 -15 reps Friday Back, Triceps Saturday Legs, Abs, Calf's Lat pull downs   - 5 sets 12-15 reps Seated row   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Bent over rows   - 4 sets 12 -15 reps Close grip pull downs   - 4 sets to failure Straight bar push downs   - 5 sets 15-20 reps Skull crushers   - 4 sets 12 -15 reps Over head rope pulls   - 4 sets 12-15 reps Squats - 6 sets 12- 15 reps Hack Squats   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Leg Extensions   - 5 sets 12 -15 reps Laying hamstring curls   - 5 sets 12-15 reps Seated hamstring curls   - 5 sets 12-15 reps   Super sets Calf raises and weighted sit ups 1 Hour of cardio 5 days a week